Tempest

December 5, 2011
Debut author Cross launches a trilogy with an exciting and complex page-turner about difficult choices. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer can travel in time, but he’s no Doctor Who—he can only make short jumps backward, and he can’t change anything. It’s all harmless experimentation until his girlfriend, Holly, is shot when two gunmen attempt to kidnap him. Panicked, Jackson jumps back two years and gets stuck there. The consequences of unprepared time travel and Jackson pretending to be his 17-year-old self are amusing, but as he explores his life and pursues Holly (now his girlfriend-to-be), the already gripping story escalates. Jackson discovers his father’s secret life with a shadowy government agency called Tempest, and father and son become tangled with violent rival time travelers determined to alter the course of history. As Jackson explores his powers, he has no idea which side to trust or who is trying to kill him, and failure to make the right decisions threaten worldwide repercussions. It’s a story packed with moments both tender and electric—Cross’s zippy writing and fresh plot are an exhilarating combination. Ages 14–up. Agent: FinePrint Literary Management.

Starred review from November 15, 2011
Jackson Meyer is a 19-year-old Upper East Sider with a loving and loyal girlfriend, a brilliant and funny best friend and an unexpected and exciting new talent. Inexplicably, Jackson can suddenly "jump" back and forth in time. Exploring his gift for time travel begins as harmless fun but quickly turns into a bona fide race against time as Jackson journeys two years into the past to save the girl he loves in the present. Using a combination of Jackson's journal entries and his own first-person narration, debut author Cross takes readers on a thrilling ride as Jackson struggles to harness his abilities in a desperate attempt to learn the truth about who he is and, even more importantly, who he can trust. Though plenty complicated, the logistics of time travel are woven into the story in a way that makes them accessible to readers yet still feel organic. The characters are equally well crafted. Complex and distinct, they will work their way into readers' hearts and stay with them long after the book is finished. It is equal parts adventure, romance, science fiction and touching family drama; readers will turn the last page and find themselves wishing they could "jump" to the future and read the sequel. (Science fiction. 14 & up)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

February 1, 2012

Gr 8 Up-"Okay, so it's true. I can time travel. But it's not as exciting as it sounds." Actually, it is every bit as exciting as it sounds. And the more Jackson learns about his powers and the nature of time travel, the more thrilling this novel gets. At first the teen treats his ability as a benign experiment and fodder for his geeky buddy's theorizing, but soon his talent becomes the key to saving his girlfriend and, quite possibly, the world. After watching Holly get shot, Jackson learns that most of what he knows about himself and his family is a lie and that powerful, opposing forces are willing to do just about anything to have him and his developing powers on their side. While the details of time travel are complex, they don't overpower the story, which remains focused on Jackson's relationships with Holly and his father. Teens looking for a romantic, high-adrenaline novel will have a hard time putting this one down. Jackson's sacrifice at the end will tug on heart strings and leave readers hungry for the next installment in a projected trilogy.-Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2011
Grades 9-12 Equal parts sf time-travel saga, secret-agent action thriller, and romance, this series starter takes time getting its bearings, even as dramatic scenes place its hero, Jackson, in inexplicable danger. For fans of puzzle-within-puzzle plots, this won't be a deterrent. Son of a New York City CEO, Jackson knows he is able to step back in time and has been testing his abilities with his science-nerd friend, Adam. But Jackson's girlfriend, Holly, is in the dark until two sinister men corner the couple and begin shooting. Shocked, Jackson is thrown far into his own past. Certain that the Holly he knows in 2009 is dead, he sets out to know an earlier version of her, while also learning that his own father may not be who he says he is. The CIA is involved, as is a doctor who engineered a terrible experiment. Significant ambiguities remain throughout the final act as Jackson makes some tough choices, though for some readers this may actually keep them panting for the sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)